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53 / 46MPG
BODY TYPE: Sedan
TECHNOLOGY: Hybrid
BASE MSRP: $18,950
Timing is often everything in the automotive world. As gasoline prices again spiraled upwards, Toyota’s launch of the Prius c in mid-March couldn’t have been better timed. With a price starting at $18,950 and an EPA city fuel economy estimate of 53 mpg, it should be no surprise that the smallest Prius tallied 1,201 units sold within three days
of its launch. Through the end of May, sales totaled 12,379, numbers that aren’t far removed from the Honda Insight’s 15,519 units for all of 2011.
The diminutive c is the fourth hybrid to be tagged a Prius and joins the conventional midsize Prius (now referred ...

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FAST FACTS
2. The 2010 Prius is just $22,400 to start.
3. EV, ECO and Power modes let you select your driving style and the car will do the rest.
LIKE DRIVING A FUEL-ECONOMY VIDEO GAME
What gives the Prius its game-like feel are the numerous control screens that provide readouts of the car’s fuel efficiency, in real time, over a long period.
In no particular order, there’s an “Energy Monitor” screen that shows a diagram of the car with the gasoline engine, electric motor and battery pack. This is more of a general knowledge tool that is nice aesthetically, as it shows what power source is driving the wheels and when the battery is being recharged.
Next up is the “Hybrid System ...

An electric car could cost you less than you think
As we celebrate Earth Day with gasoline prices rising again. you might want to consider whether an electric car could work for you.
All-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Spark or Honda Fit EV cost less than many people think, says auto analyst Tara Baukus Mello of the financial web site Bankrate.com. And electrics can even save substantial money in the right circumstances, she notes.
Electric cars, with their limited range before needing recharging, are not for everyone. If you commute more than about 70 miles a day, recharging could become an issue. But studies have shown that 90 percent of Americans drive less than 50 miles ...

2010 Toyota Prius, All-New 50-MPG Hybrid Packs Solar Panels, More Power: 2009 Detroit Auto Show
October 1, 2009 12:00 AM Text Size: A. A. A
It certainly is a sign of our times when an all-new 2010 Toyota Prius is the most anticipated car to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. But its true. With unstable fuel prices and a growing consciousness about our environment, the Prius has more mass appeal than anyone could have imagined when Toyota launched the original first-gen model way back in 1997. Since then, Toyota has sold more than 670,000 in the U.S. And we predict this third generation Prius will be the most successful yet.
Let’s start with the fuel economy. Toyota doesn’t ...